South American Vacations

Uruguay is known as the Oriental Republic of Uruguay and located in the southeast of the continent of South America.  It has a population of 3,477,778 people and is bordered by Brazil to its north, and the South Atlantic Ocean to the southeast.  It is the third smallest territory in South America just behind the Suriname, and French Guiana, which is the territory of France.  Uruguay won its independence from Spain in the early 19th century, struggling against not only Spain but also Argentina and Brazil.  Now it is a democratic republic and makes much of its economic profit from agriculture.  

Uruguay is known as a very progressive country.  It has a stable political government (and has been said by many sources to be the least “corrupt” in the continent) and gives its residents many advantages that other countries have fought hard to ensure, or have yet to receive.  For example, the government of Uruguay provides free education, recognizes same-sex civil unions and allows women to vote—and they finalized these laws long before everyone else did.

The country is known for its tourist attractions as well as its sandy beaches and thriving city centers.  The weather in Uruguay is subtropical, and especially so, because there are not any nearby mountains in the country.  Therefore, this region is easily influenced by weather fronts with no interference from mountainous barriers.  When communicating with others you will mostly be speaking Spanish, or perhaps Portuñol in some areas, which is a mix of the two most common languages: Portuguese and Spanish.  Some of the elite of Uruguay may know English but usually only speak it when dealing with tourists in very commercially oriented areas.

The food in Uruguay consists of high butter, fried foods, grains and fat, but unlike other areas in the continent, low on spice.  Some of the most common dishes you will find include ravioli, empanadas and gramajo.  One popular dish is known as chivito, which is the Uruguay equivalent of a burger, with Uruguayan meat, tomato, lettuce, eggs, ham, bacon, mozzarella cheese and mayonnaise.  Yerba mate is the drink of choice though to many tourists it can be a bitter shot to swallow.  Uruguay is also known for its fine quality wines. 

Major Cities In Uruguay

Montevideo: The capital of the country and also a great destination for sightseeing, with many old sites like Ciudad Vieja as well as fishing and biking activities around Rambla waterside roadway.  This area is especially safe to walk around in and take your time enjoying the scenery.

Colonia del Sacramento: Offers many colonial buildings as well as cobbled streets.  It is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

La Paloma: This location is great for summer tourism activity, and offers some great beaches like La Aguada beach and Anaconda Beach.

Punta del Este is a beach resort town and offers more traditional vacation fun with features like casinos, beaches, yachts and water sports.

Piriapolis: Small beach town and more casual than Punta del Este, but probably more appealing to travelers looking to relax and enjoy a tranquil moment.

Salto: Offers visitors a free zoo and also the healing thermal spa of Fuente Salto.

Things To Do In Uruguay

The Rocha region is exceptional for bird watching, while Atlantic Ocean beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world.  Uruguay is one of the most popular and peaceable countries to visit in South America.  It is a city not marked by violence, and even the tap water is safe to drink.  Come see why Uruguay, a relatively small country, is still a major tourist attraction.

Uruguay Trivia: Uruguay’s motto is “Libertad o muerte”, which translated means to “Freedom Or Death.”